Cucumber 



of shoots may be trained where there is sufficient light for them. It 

 is best to begin as advised above, with the aid of fire heat to start 

 the crop for the sake of gaining time ; but if this is not convenient 

 begin without fire heat in the last week of May, and the plants will 

 produce fruit until the chill of autumn makes an end of them, and 

 the house is again required for the greenhouse plants. 



Winter Cucumbers thrive best in lean-to houses with somewhat 

 steep roofs, as such houses are less liable to chill during cold windy 

 weather, and they catch a maximum of the winter sunshine. In 

 a mild winter, Cucumbers may be grown in any kind of house that 

 can be maintained at a suitable temperature, and the markets are 

 supplied from rough constructions that do duty for many purposes. 

 But when hard times occur, the steep lean-to, with bed along the 

 front, and tank to give equable bottom heat, will prove the most 

 serviceable, as it will neither allow snow to lodge on the glass, nor 

 suffer any serious decline of temperature during the prevalence of 

 sharp frost and keen winds. For late autumn supply any kind of 

 house will suffice, but best of all an airy span. A brick pit will answer 

 every purpose from October to March with good management, and 

 fermenting materials will afford the needful heat. In such cases 

 trenches should be provided for occasional renewal of the bottom 

 heat. But a roomy house and a service of hot water justly stand in 

 favour with experienced cultivators, as combining the necessary con- 

 ditions with convenience of management. 



For winter culture, plants are raised from seeds and from cuttings. 

 Seedling plants are the best, because the most vigorous ; but they 

 require a little more time than cuttings to arrive at a fruiting state. 

 For pot culture cuttings are best, as we expect only a moderate crop 

 from pot plants, and quickness of production is of great importance. 

 It is usual to sow the first lot of seeds on the ist of September, and 

 to sow again on the ist of October and the ist of November; after 

 which it is not advisable to sow again until the ist of February, for 

 the spring crop. If the management is good, the first sowing will be 

 in fruit by the time the third batch of seed is sown, say, by the first 

 week of November, and thenceforward throughout the winter there 

 should be no break in the supply. 



The management of Winter Cucumbers turns upon details chiefly, 

 and will be found in the end to depend rather upon care than skill. 

 The general principles are the same as in growing Cucumbers in 

 frames, the task for the cultivator being to carry them out success- 

 fully. Begin by sowing the seed singly in small pots in light turfy loam, 



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